Paragon Funeral and Cremation Services

03/23/2026

Early Bird Registration Ends in 1 Month!

There’s still time to take advantage of early bird registration for the 2026 FSAC Summit & Exhibitor Showcase in Saskatoon!

Register before the early bird deadline to secure the best rates and join funeral professionals from across Canada for two days of learning, connection, and innovation.

By registering early, you’ll gain access to:

✅ Insightful educational sessions from leaders in deathcare
✅ A dynamic Exhibitor Showcase featuring the latest products and services
✅ Meaningful networking with deathcare professionals from coast to coast
✅ Memorable social events celebrating the profession

Don’t miss your chance to save—register today. After all, we are Better Together!

https://fsac.ca/events/2026-fsac-summit-exhibitor-showcase/

03/21/2026

When you lose someone you love, there can come a moment when life no longer makes sense.

The world keeps moving, people keep talking, the days keep coming, but inside, everything feels like it has stopped. You may wake up and wonder what the point is. You may go through the motions while carrying a heaviness so deep that even the smallest task feels impossible. When the person who gave your life so much meaning is no longer physically here, it can feel like there’s no reason to keep going. That feeling can be frightening, isolating, and hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t lived it.

Grief has a way of stripping life down to its bare bones. It forces us to face the emptiness, the silence, and the ache of having to remain when the person we love is gone. It’s not just that we miss them. It’s that the future we imagined with them has been shattered. The plans, the routines, the quiet moments, the shared dreams, all of it suddenly feels unfinished. And when something so important is taken from us, it’s natural to wonder how we’re supposed to keep living in the aftermath of it.

For many grieving people, the question isn’t just, “How do I survive this?” but “Why should I?”

That can be one of the hardest truths to admit. Not always because you want to die, but because you’re no longer sure how to live with meaning in a world that no longer holds the person you love. You may feel as though the color has drained out of everything. Things that once mattered may not matter now. Things that once brought joy may feel hollow. This is part of grief too, and it deserves compassion, not judgment.

Over time, though, something begins to shift. And not in a way that erases the pain. But little by little, some of us begin to realize that perhaps the life ahead of us isn’t one we’re meant to abandon, but one we’re being asked to finish differently. Not without them, because love doesn’t work that way. But for them, and with them. We begin to understand that carrying them forward may become part of the reason we stay.

To finish our life for them doesn’t mean we stop living for ourselves. It means we allow their love, their memory, and the imprint they left on us to remain part of our reason for continuing. It means we ask, “What would honor them now?” Maybe it means loving more deeply, speaking more kindly, showing up more fully, or refusing to take for granted the small sacred parts of life.

Maybe it means telling their story, carrying forward their values, or becoming softer in the places where grief has cracked us open. In this way, the life we continue living becomes more than mere survival. It becomes a quiet act of love.

And to finish our life with them means recognizing that death may have changed the relationship, but it didn’t end the bond. We still carry them in our hearts, in our choices, in our memories, in the ways they shaped who we are. We may talk to them in the car, think of them when the sky looks a certain way, or feel them beside us in the moments they once would have shared. Love like that doesn’t disappear. It
changes form, but it stays. And sometimes, that continuing connection is what helps us put one foot in front of the other.

There’s something deeply healing in realizing that moving forward isn’t betrayal. Living on isn’t leaving them behind. Smiling again isn’t forgetting.

Finding purpose again isn’t proof that they mattered less. It’s proof that love is still alive in you. It’s proof that what they gave you still matters. The journey may never be the one you wanted, but it can still become one that carries meaning. It can still hold beauty. It can still be worthwhile, not because your loss was fair, and not because your pain disappears, but because love remains a guiding force.

Some days, finishing your life for them may look like something big, like starting over, helping others, or doing work that matters. Other days, it may look much smaller. Getting out of bed. Taking a walk. Drinking a cup of coffee. Answering a message. Breathing through another hard anniversary. Grief teaches us that courage often looks ordinary. And sometimes, just staying is its own act of devotion.

The journey after loss is never the journey we would’ve chosen. But if we can begin, in time, to live not only with the pain of their absence, but with the love of their presence still alive within us, then the road becomes a little more bearable. Even worthwhile.

We go on because they mattered. We go on because love still speaks. We go on because, somehow, in ways both broken and beautiful, we’re still carrying them with us.

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

03/21/2026

Grief is complicated and it shows up in many different ways. It can impact a person emotionally, physically, cognitively, socially, professionally, and sometimes all at once.

Grief can feel so overwhelming and there may be days when you feel like something is wrong with you.

But I want to remind you that nothing is wrong with you. As hard as it is, grief is a normal and natural response to a loss that has turned your world upside down. It's part of what it means to be human and honestly, when facing a life changing loss, grieving is necessary.

There is a lot of mixed messaging out there when it comes to grief and it's easy to get caught in the web of "rules" and "expectations." Society is uncomfortable with grief and far too many people will try to dictate what your grief experience looks like and if you don't fit into the mold, it's common to feel like you are doing it all wrong or that something is wrong with you.

You get to grieve in whatever way feels right for you. There are no rules and this is a personal process specific to you with so many variables that can influence how deeply you grieve.

Stay true to your heart and give yourself permission to grieve. I know it's hard and there will be days when you feel like it's just too much. Have faith that the noise will quiet with time and as hard and painful as it is, the intensity will eventually calm down.

Honor your grief and keep moving one step at a time. Give yourself grace and lean on those who show up for you with understanding and love. Not judgement and unrealistic expectations.

With that being said, if you are really struggling and stuck in your grief and it's difficult to move forward, it might be helpful to talk to someone. Sending you lots of love, validation, compassion, and understanding. You get to grieve and it's my hope you will find your way to a place where you have more good days than bad.

Hugs. Michele

03/19/2026

Why Choose Paragon Funeral and Cremation Services?

* Family owned and operated
* Locally owned and operated, serving Regina and area for 28 years
* We are not a franchise or corporation: money stays in our community, allowing us to support community events and local charities; we don’t have to pay the salaries of additional head office personnel, thus keeping expenses lower for the families we serve
* We are a FULL-SERVICE funeral provider and can take care of your loved one from the first transfer, until burial or cremation.
* We have our own crematorium and can give you peace of mind with continuity of care
* We have a caring staff, with a wealth of combined experience, each one bringing valuable input to our team
* There are no high pressured sales. We help your family follow through with the wishes of your loved one. We will go over your options and help you decide what works best for your family.
* We are here to serve you in a dignified manner and help lessen your load

03/17/2026

🍀

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and I just couldn’t let that go by without saying something about it that includes some reference to grief.

(Because…well…that’s what I do.)

When I was growing up I lived in a predominantly Italian neighborhood.

It was literally like 99% Italian families...and I’m pretty sure mine was the 1% who wasn’t.

I also wasn’t Irish, but when I graduated from high school and went off to college I found myself smack dab in the middle of a predominantly Irish area of the world.

Most of my school friends were Irish and St. Patrick’s Day was a huge deal.

Especially the annual parade.

The first parade I attended was really fun, but I couldn’t understand why everyone kept pinching me. Then I learned that if you weren’t wearing green you got pinched.

(That probably would have been helpful information to have before being around a bunch of people wearing green and drinking too much beer.)

I do know that Irish people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th to honor the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, so I guess it also evolved into this whole pinching thing.

But today is a holiday, and I know that when you’re grieving it’s normal to feel a little ‘green-eyed jealousy’ or resentment toward the outward joy of other people.

(Especially if they’re pinching you.)

It’s also a day about ‘luck’, and I think luck is great, but most of life is hard work and grief is at the top of the list.

So if today is a hard day for you, I see you, and I believe that the best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.

And I’ll leave you with this advice…don’t ever iron a four leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck. 😊

They say everyone (including me) is Irish on March 17th.

So Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀

- Gary

03/17/2026

🍀

03/17/2026

Grief is complicated and it rarely looks exactly the same from one person to the next.

It's not something you "see" on someone else and decide I want my grief to look just like that. Even when two people are grieving for the same person, the grief experience will look and feel different for everyone. There are so many variables that influence how deep grief will run. Especially the relationship.

I have had grievers share how isolated and lonely they feel when family seems distant or when they grieve in different ways. Recently, a kind man who lost his wife talked about feeling unsupported by his kids. He shared they rarely called or stopped by even though they knew he was lonely and missing his wife. He stated he didn't expect them to "take on" his grief but questioned if they were grieving as much as he was for their mom. They rarely talked about her and instead of sadness they seemed to have moved on with their own lives.

My heart hurt for him as this happens a lot. I reminded him that every loss is different and everyone will grieve in their own unique way. Even when it's for the same person. And his daily life was disrupted in different ways compared to his adult children who were now busy with work and raising their young kids. It doesn't mean they are not grieving for their mom nor does it mean they don't care about him.

Talking with him reminded me that it is important to lower expectations when it comes to how others show up. It's important to not expect others to grieve in the exact same way and to remember how personal the journey of grief truly is.

I get it and I have felt let down myself over the years. It can be helpful to find people who have experienced a similar loss. Finding a support group specific to losing a spouse can be helpful if your spouse has died. Talking to other adult children who have lost a parent can b or connecting with other parents who have lost a child can bring comfort and support. Even then, everyone will grieve in their own way but finding people who get it can make a difference as you try to rebuild and move forward.

I'm here for you. With love -

Michele

03/09/2026

When grieving a devastating loss - there will be days.

Days when it feels like you can't possibly get through this or survive. Days when it feels like everything has changed. Because it has.

Days when life is turned upside down and nothing feels right. Days when you are so exhausted it's all you can do to just get out of bed and even then you walk around on auto-pilot getting nothing done.
Even the smallest of tasks feel much too hard and your nervous system is on over drive.

There will be days when you miss your loved one so much everything hurts and you look for them everywhere you go. Days when you are so lonely you want to curl up in a ball and cry. But you don't. You keep moving because that's what's expected of you and the people in your life "need" you to be fine. Days when you hide your tears behind empty smiles and pretend like you are okay when you're not.

Life after loss can be incredibly hard and what grievers need is for people to show up. To listen. To at least try to show some compassion whether they understand or not. And the truth is, it's impossible to completely understand what a griever is feeling or going through from one day to the next. Especially if someone has yet to experience their own devastating loss.

So if you are grieving, please know I see your grief. And while I can't possibly know exactly what you are feeling, I know there will be days when it feels like life is spinning out of control. I know your world is forever changed and I know it can feel incredibly lonely even when you are standing in a crowded room.

I also want you to know it won't always feel this intense or out of control. At least not ALL the time. Things will calm down and it's possible to have days when your grief is a little quieter and moments of peace are restored.

Grief may always be part of your life but it's my hope you will find a way forward and find the courage to rebuild. You will survive even though it may not feel like it right now and your grieving heart deserves to feel validated, supported, and loved. I'm here.

Michele

03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day to all the wonderful ladies in our lives! You are loved!

“Lift her up and you rise, too.” — Meghan Craig

02/18/2026

One of the hardest things to face and endure when grieving is the loneliness.

Grievers often feel lonely even when they are surrounded by family and friends. People feel lonely at work, at home, when out to dinner with friends, at a party, and when in the middle of a crowded room.

Grief can be isolating and the grieving sometimes feel like they are the only one. The only one who is feeling the claws of grief and feeling the pain deep in their bones.

It can feel like no one gets this new version of you and no one truly understands. And the truth is, no one can completely walk in your shoes or know exactly what you are feeling from one day to the next.

Grief is personal and there are so many variables that can influence your own journey through grief. Even when loved ones are grieving the same person as you, their grief experience will be different.

But here's the thing, even when grief is lonely, you are not completely alone. There are so many people who have walked the path of grief before you, and people who are walking it right now.

Grief is a universal experience. I have said it so many times before. It doesn’t have to divide any of us but rather can unite us through our shared experiences with grief and loss.

Even though no two losses or grief experiences are exactly the same, there is a thread of compassion and understanding that weaves through human beings who have come to know loss and grief. It may not completely take the loneliness away, but finding people who "get" grief can ease the loneliness just a bit and help you to feel less alone.

There are people who want to help and will show up with compassion and try to support you through the deep hurt and pain. Whether it's a complete stranger, someone in this community, me, or a family member or friend, hold on to them. Lean on them. Don't walk this path completely alone.

I know how lonely grief is and I'm hoping this page offers you a safe, less lonely place to land.

With love - michele